Nigerians recount SARS brutalities, campaign for scrapping

Nigerians have taken to Twitter and Facebook to launch a campaign against what they describe as brutality they have endured in the hands of the Police Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) operatives.

The Nigeria Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PPCRRU) on Saturday tweeted an image with phone numbers to call for complaints against SARS.

Following the tweet, Twitter users posted several experiences they have had in contact with SARS and called for the scrapping of the unit established to combat the spate of armed robbery across the country.

One Twitter user, Uche Mcdonald said, “How can you report faceless people, no ID tags, no names, with ghost vehicles, just guys with guns and on mufti outfit terrorising everybody on sight,” in his reply to the PPCRRU tweet.

Another user, Femi Coker tweeted, “Lagos’ experience of SARS is even still good. I was in Ilorin in September, they came for the lounge we were chilling like armed robbers ready to rob everyone. They stopped cars with youths with no reason, as long as you have a beard and look decent. This is getting out of hand.”

On Facebook, John Kpoobari Diidi wrote: “It would be nice if we come together and end this SARS menace. I don’t understand why it’s a crime for a young guy under 35 to drive a car, own an iPhone and laptop and keep beards. #EndSars”

A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in several tweets on Twitter and a post on Facebook wrote: “The arbitrary harassment of young Nigerians by police (who should be protecting them) has no place in a democratic society. The #EndSARS protest shows Nigerian youth are upset and the matter needs urgent attention.”

Also, Amnesty International Nigeria in one of its several tweets, said, “Our research has uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released.”

The #EndSARS campaign as at press time was number one on Twitter with about 500,000 tweets.

The campaigners said if the government failed to take action, they will embark on a nationwide protest on December 11.